Holistic Services

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine is an integrated system of health care that uses natural methods and materials to address health ailments, conditions, and chronic pain. Treatments may include homeopathy, herbalism, and acupuncture as well as diet and lifestyle counseling. The naturopathic philosophy supports a holistic approach to optimum health and disease prevention with non-invasive treatments in order to avoid the use of surgery and drugs.

A naturopathic physician is recognized as a licensed professional qualified to practice as a primary care physician and holds the equivalent of a PhD in college credit hours, clinical-based training and research. Be assured that practitioners associated with Essex Wellness Center are experienced and highly skilled in recognizing when traditional medical care is necessary and when diagnostic testing for a potentially serious condition needs to be addressed.

Dr. Dana Krete earned her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine and Master of Acupuncture at National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. In addition to her in-depth knowledge of Naturopathic and Chinese medicine, she also has a background in health and fitness as a personal trainer, fitness instructor, triathlete and Division I college scholarship athlete.

Dr. Krete uses a multidisciplinary approach to treatment including acupuncture, Chinese and Western herbs, homeopathy, nutritional supplements, and especially enjoys providing nutritional counseling. Staying true to the roots of both Chinese and Naturopathic medicine, every patient is treated as a whole person and as an individual. She enjoys treating patients of all ages and, as a mother of two, she is very happy to see children in her practice. She has experience treating a vast array of medical conditions from colicky infants and children with ear infections to autoimmune conditions, diabetes and mood issues such as anxiety and depression. She has a particular interest in treating hormonal imbalances including PMS and menopause, digestive disorders, fatigue, anxiety, depression and insomnia, and also musculoskeletal pain including sciatica, low back and neck pain. With her extensive interest and knowledge in nutrition and fitness, she also works with patients whose primary goal is weight loss or optimizing wellness.

Dr. Krete uses various methods of diagnosis in determining which treatments will be best suited for each patient. This includes a detailed history during your visit, physical exam, and lab studies and imaging if indicated. Dr. Krete uses many of the typical labs you may have done in a conventional medical setting, and will also determine if more in depth testing is applicable to your case. For example, nutritional status testing, food intolerance testing, salivary cortisol testing, digestive health panels, neurotransmitter testing, and hormone panels, among others. These lab tests are accurate and scientific, yet not offered in most other medical settings. Dr. Krete’s goal is to help her patients find and treat the cause of her their health issues rather than just treating symptoms. Dr. Krete also practices acupuncture at the Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center in Middletown CT.